Imperial College London and France’s Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) recently celebrated their growing partnership at an annual meeting in Paris. This collaboration highlights the increasing significance of international cooperation in addressing global challenges. The meeting brought together academics and leaders from both institutions to discuss the impact of their joint efforts.
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In 2022, Imperial and CNRS established the International Research Centre for Transformational Science and Technology (IRC), marking a pioneering initiative in the UK and Europe. This partnership has flourished into a dynamic Franco-UK convergence science network, fostering the development of new joint laboratories, doctoral training networks, and research programs.
The annual gathering in Paris showcased the progress of flagship programs in various fields such as the physics of medicine, neuromorphic computing, metabolism, and quantum fields and strings. Additionally, the meeting highlighted the ongoing work at the joint International Research Labs dedicated to mathematics and engineering.
More than 50 alumni convened in Paris to engage with leading researchers from Imperial College. A special event hosted by Imperial provided a platform for researchers to share ideas on addressing global challenges. Professors Sandrine Heutz, Eric Climent, Fang Xie, and Emmanuel Brouillet led a panel discussion on the critical role of international collaboration in tackling today’s global challenges.
The CNRS-Imperial International Research Centre for Transformational Science and Technology supports research efforts in sustainability, connectivity, and health. This collaboration involves joint initiatives in early-career researcher training, research funding, and interdisciplinary projects aimed at addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
One of the major projects under this collaboration is the LhARA project, which merges advancements in particle physics with biomedical science to enhance cancer treatment through proton beam therapy. Another project, the Abraham de Moivre International Research Laboratory, focuses on leveraging mathematics to tackle societal challenges related to climate, health, and sustainability.
Furthermore, Imperial, CNRS, and the University of Lille are collaborating on a project targeting metabolic diseases like diabetes and obesity. This initiative, known as the Integrative Metabolism International Research Project (IRP), employs artificial intelligence and machine learning to develop innovative treatments and gain a comprehensive understanding of metabolism.
Moreover, the partnership between CNRS and Imperial in the field of quantum fields and strings aims to advance theoretical physics and mathematical physics. This collaboration explores areas such as superstrings and strongly coupled field theories, with implications for quantum gravity, particle physics, and condensed matter.
Additionally, the GOLDMINE project, an international research network, merges the expertise of physicists, chemists, and biologists to explore coherent nanosources for applications in sustainable computing and fundamental nano-level research.
Imperial and CNRS have jointly established a PhD program to nurture the next generation of researchers, with over 50 students and 30 collaborative projects since 2020. These projects cover diverse areas including arctic climate, bioengineering, and mathematics, reflecting the institutions’ commitment to fostering cutting-edge research.
The ongoing partnership between Imperial College London and CNRS exemplifies the power of international collaboration in driving scientific innovation and addressing complex global challenges across various disciplines.